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Dan and Michelle Landes, owners of WaterCourse Foods, describe their story on their website as "one of perseverance and patience." Flexibility has helped, too—when Dan was about to unlock the front door on opening day and Michelle saw that they’d forgotten to stock the register with money, she bolted home to empty their change jar.
Flexibility marks the kitchen as well, which aims to fill plates with so much homey flavor that even carnivores don’t notice there’s no room left for meat. The chefs accomplish this by way of boldly seasoned veggies such as sweet potatoes, smoky mushrooms, and fire-roasted corn, which star in some dishes and serve as accents to proteins including grilled tempeh and country-fried seitan in others. The sense of reveling in the earth’s bounty spills from the plates onto the dining-room walls, decorated with delicate murals of animals and woodland scenes that resemble the results of a collaboration between John James Audubon and Beatrix Potter.
In its journey from lunch-and-breakfast spot to full-blown restaurant complete with bakery and bar, WaterCourse Foods has won acclaim both locally as a neighborhood favorite and nationally as a must-see for vegetarian travelers passing through town. Fodor’s called the portobello Reuben and seitan-based buffalo wings “amazing,” and
Westword named WaterCourse 2012’s Best Vegetarian Restaurant while noting that it still hasn’t reached its peak—the place “just keeps getting better” while it “caters to any palate.”
For WaterCourse Foods, resourcefulness means finding new ways to serve not only diners but also the environment. Old fryer oil is shipped off to be converted into biodiesel, to-go dishes come in biodegradable containers, and diners who roll up on bikes or drift in effortlessly on gusts of wind get a 10% discount. Practicing what they preach beyond the restaurant, the Landes family supports local and international causes through programs such as Nonprofit Mondays, giving up to 15% of their Monday sales to select organizations. When they leave work each evening, they go home to their urban organic permaculture farm, run largely on solar power.

Owner and senior wine instructor Dani Cross created VinBoutique with a mission to introduce palates to the best French wines. A certified level-III sommelier, Cross personally travels to France to hand-pick vintages from small production companies and develop relationships with local vintners, ensuring her customers enjoy a collection of reds, whites, and bubbly that is exceptional not just in craftsmanship and taste, but also in value. "By tasting my wines, you can actually hone your palate way quicker because [the wines are] technically correct" in the way they are selected, shipped, and stored, she says. "If you're not tasting something that's proper, you won't know what chardonnay is supposed to taste like."
A strong belief that wine should be enjoyed and shared with others inspires VinBoutique's tasting classes, where Cross and other wine experts share insights into different varietals, food pairings, and wine-making techniques. Using an approach designed to be both fun and unintimidating, Cross also includes a question-and-answer section, as well as easy-to-follow tasting notes, making her classes accessible to everyone from the casual wine fan to the connoisseur who can uncork a bottle using only their mind.
As Dani continued to try new wines and savor her favorite French vintages, she became dismayed. Often, the wines she bought had been stored improperly or for too long, destroying the bouquets and noses that she loved. "Born of frustration, I decided to start my own [wine boutique]." And thus she curated a selection of French wines for VinBoutique. "By tasting my wines, you can actually hone your palate way quicker because [the wines are] technically correct" in the way they are selected, shipped, and stored, she says. "If you're not tasting something that's proper, you won't know what chardonnay is supposed to taste like."
In addition to bottles of red, white, and bubbly, Dani and a team of instructors offer wine classes suitable for everyone from the casual wine fan to the connoisseur who can uncork a bottle using only their mind. Each class comes with notes and take-home materials, and is taught by a teacher who can both go into great technical detail or give thorough overviews so that student's don?t "get cross-eyed."

At first, Richard Sandoval seemed destined for fame as a professional tennis player. But as he traveled the world to compete, sampling different cuisines along the way, his interests shifted from the court to the table. He became so enamored with the complexities of international food that he enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America.
Soon after his graduation, Sandoval's second shot at fame hit the bullseye: he opened Maya on New York's Upper East Side to a glowing review from the New York Times.
Nearly 20 years later, Sandoval's mission has both thrived and evolved. The success of Maya allowed him to build the award-winning Richard Sandoval Restaurants group, which comprises more than 35 dynamic eateries around the world?including La Sandia. Here, the Mexico City native embodies his mantra of "old ways, new hands" by serving modern versions of his father's and grandmother's recipes.
The Food
Meals often begin with guacamole mashed tableside, which is just one of La Sandia's signature dishes. Chicken tinga tacos is another, as is slow-roasted pork shoulder served with corn tortillas, pickled onions, and habanero salsa. The Latin Light portion of the menu, created in partnership with dietitian Diane Henderiks, spotlights dishes with 500 calories or less. Sandoval puts a Mexican slant on brunch, too, with items such as chocolate waffles topped with cajeta and fried plantains.
The Bar
Tequila lovers rejoice in La Sandia's selection of 200+ bottles, many of which are handpicked from the flowering tops of cacti by Sandoval himself. Some are even house-infused, able to be sampled neat, in flights, or in the seven specialty margaritas. For sweeter sips, guests turn to house-made sangria and agua frescas.
The Feel
Like all of Sandoval's restaurants, La Sandia is energetic. Merengue music jumps from the speakers, and colorful glass walls separate the distinctive dining areas.

The menu explores Central and South America as well as the Caribbean with small plates such as slow-roasted pork tamales and shrimp ceviche with cucumber, radish, onions, and fresh lime juice. Dark-chocolate ice cream and a moist banana tres leches cake end meals on a sweet note, following sips of a modified mojito made with house-infused pineapple rum.
When most people go on vacation, they return with souvenirs for friends. But when Chef Alex Gurevich traveled to Latin America, he came back with a plan. Inspired by the rich cultural traditions in the eclectic cuisine he sampled, Gurevich decided to create a space that embraced the spirit of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The result: Lim?n, and the fresh, cultural-blending novoandino style of cooking that fills its menu. And it hasn't gone unnoticed. Shortly after opening, 5280 magazine praised the eatery?s devotion to bold, yet accessible flavors, placing Lim?n on its list of Denver?s Best New Restaurants in 2006.
The menu?s shareable small plates are divided into three sections, each featuring classic dishes as well as refined interpretations of staples from a specific region. Grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce and empanadas stuffed with corn and black beans evoke the flavors of Argentina while the ropa vieja?s slow-roasted shredded beef stamps diners' passports and pushes them on a plane to Cuba. Even the drink menu transcends borders, with its caipirinhas?Brazil?s famously simple cocktail of cacha?a, muddled lime, and cane sugar?alongside more familiar margaritas with house-made sweet-and-sour mix.
The exposed brickwork and mocha-brown walls of Lim?n?s dining area create the same sense of warmth and coziness as the menu. Dark wooden tables nestle against high-backed, terracotta-red booths or an avocado-green half wall, while other seats border the front wall?s picturesque windows. At night, the sconces, teardrop-shaped pendant lamps, and burning piles of unnecessary travel guides light the space, lending a soft glow to the entire room.

At Moyer Total Wellness, the goal is to help clients feel better after one visit without the hassle of sales pitches for expensive care plans, helping people save time and money via effective treatment. Doctor of Chiropractic Randy Moyer and his staff take a team approach to holistic healing. In addition to performing the latest techniques in chiropractic care, Moyer Total Wellness offers a variety of other services to enhance well-being. This includes massage therapy from a staff of experienced therapists, who use their treatments to help alleviate patients' discomfort and prevent chronic degenerative diseases. Their custom treatments and specialty massages such as shiatsu, lymphatic drainage, and myofascial release made Moyer Total Wellness the winner in the Best Massage category of CityVoter's 2012 and 2013 A-Lists. Additionally, it was heralded as having the Top Massage in Denver in 2014 by the editors of 5280 Magazine. Therapists loosen muscles in five dedicated massage rooms, including a suite for couples looking to relax quietly together.
The multifaceted crew, including 12 massage therapists, 1 certified yoga instructor, 1 aesthetician, 1 holistic nutritionist, and 3 chiropractors, welcomes guests 12 hours a day, seven days a week. A holistic nutritionist and exercise physiologist helps keep patients on track during personalized weight-loss plans, aestheticians provide skincare services including facials, dermaplaning, and microdermabrasion treatments, and Dr. Moyer helps clients manage pain with his chiropractic adjustments. Learn more about the facility's other two chiropractic doctors, Dr. D and Dr. J.

While spending a summer in Venice, California, scholarship athlete Kent Paul discovered the art of bodybuilding after Ed Connors?the owner of the Gold?s Gym franchise?sensed his potential and began sponsoring him in competitions. During this life changing summer, Paul honed his workout strategies with the help of renowned trainers and nutritionists, kicking off a journey that would eventually lead him to earning a degree in kinesiology, owning his own fitness business, becoming a world-ranked competitive bodybuilder, and winning the title of Mr. Colorado in 1998. Then, after retiring from the sport of bodybuilding, tragedy struck; Paul was involved in a car accident that left him bedridden and suicidal for an entire year. After eventually overcoming his despair, Paul realized that his life calling included more than merely helping others bulk up their muscles?he would develop a total body fitness program that would also incorporate introspection, self-discovery, and inner strength. It was this revelation that led him to open Turbo Training Fitness. He has since garnered endorsements from Donald Trump?s Miss USA and national fitness consultants for his unique approach to inner and outer well-being.
Today, Paul puts his 15,882 hours of experience to use while leading high-impact boot-camp classes, one-on-one or group personal-training sessions, and nutrition programs. He and his team of trainers operate underneath the umbrella of Turbo Training?s personal power program, in which they require clients to fill out a self-assessment packet, list a series of measurable fitness and life goals, and whistle their all-time favorite montage themesongs before flexing one muscle. They?ll then construct a customized fitness and meal program that?s built upon the concepts of accountability and commitment.

Groupon Guide

Denver Guide

Founded as Denver City in 1858, the city has grown from a frontier mining town into one of the most populous regions in the state, offering residents hundreds of entertaining attractions. No Denver guide can list all of the things to do in the city, but a few residential favorites can provide a sample of the many delicious dining, shopping and family-friendly attractions available.

Fine dining is alive and well in Denver, with locations such as Fruition Restaurant on 6th Avenue that provide a quality dining experience. The restaurant offers a delicious menu with dishes that include poached river sturgeon, duck breast and specially prepared vegetarian dishes. Mizuna on 7th Avenue is another great spot for lovers of fine food. The dinner menu is an eclectic mix of cuisines from around the world, and it changes regularly.

In addition to great food, Denver offers a variety of antique shops that cater to the diverse needs of its residents. No guide to Denver can leave out South Broadway's antique row, with its nearly 100 antique shops, including the Lee Alex Vintage Modern Furniture. Lee Alex is a great example of the specialty antique shops situated on South Broadway. The shop specializes in mid-20th century furniture, offering residents great deals on anything from sofa sets to retro chairs and tables.

For those looking for creative things to do, Canvas and Cocktails on Clayton Street offers art classes on painting with cocktails provided. Open painting sessions are available as well; a small fee is necessary to purchase a canvas and to obtain access to paints and brushes. The Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street provides a relaxing outdoor experience. This oasis located in the midst of the surrounding metro area provides the perfect spot for a family to get close to nature without leaving the city. Along with the huge variety of flowers, this addition to the Denver guide offers a number of special events throughout the year, including concerts during the summer, lectures on gardening, and sunrise yoga sessions.